DC Titles Shipping in June 2008

DC Comics has provided Major Spoilers with cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping in June 2008. Take the jump for a peek of Final Crisis, Batman: RIP, things stirring with Booster Gold, toys, manga, and more!

TRINITY #1-4 Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza Art by Mark Bagley & Art Thibert, Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens, Tom Derenick & Wayne Faucher and Mike Norton & Jerry Ordway Covers by Carlos Pacheco DCâ€™s new weekly series TRINITY explodes in an extra-sized debut issue featuring art by fan-favorite Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man) & Art Thibert with lead stories and dialogue by Kurt Busiek (SUPERMAN, ASTRO CITY)! The lead feature explores the unusual bond â€” and importance â€” of DC’s top three characters, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, as a mysterious dream links them together and may prophesy important changes in their trinity! Plus, a co-feature in issue #1 explores the mysterious connection between several villains who are watching the Trinity â€”as well as the near future for these characters and their surrounding world! Co-features in issues #2-4 fill in back-story on some of the other important players in this major storyline. These stories are written by Busiek & Fabian Nicieza with art by Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens (NIGHTWING, GREEN ARROW), Tom Derenick & Wayne Faucher and Mike Norton & Jerry Ordway (ALL-NEW ATOM, INFINITE CRISIS). Issue #1 on sale June 4; issue #2 on sale June 11; issue #3 on sale June 18; issue #4 on sale June 25 â€¢ Issue #1 40 pg, issues #2-4 32 pg, FC, All $2.99 US

FINAL CRISIS #2 Written by Grant Morrison Art and covers by J.G. Jones Meet Japan’s number one pop culture heroes, the Super Young Team and their languid leader, Most Excellent Superbat! Join legendary wrestler Sonny Sumo and super escape artist Mister Miracle as they team to face the offspring of the Anti-Life Equation! See Earth’s superheroes mourn one of their oldest allies! Witness costumed criminals sinking to new depths of cowardice and depravity as Libra takes things too far! Uncover the doomsday secrets of the poisoned city of BlÃ¼dhaven! Learn the shocking identity of the prime suspect in the murder of a god! And read on if you dare as Batman becomes the first of Earth’s champions to face the Fallen of Apokolips. All this and a spectacular return from the dead… Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones’ multiverse-spanning epic continues with bombshell after bombshell in FINAL CRISIS #2 â€” â€œTicket to BlÃ¼dhavenâ€! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers by J.G. Jones that will ship in approximately 50/50 ratio. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale June 25 â€¢ 2 of 7 â€¢ 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Itâ€™s all-out war for control of hell! This is the major event that changes the status quo for DCâ€s infernal realm as Lord Satanus sets out to dethrone Neron at all costs. As the battle begins, various parties are drafted into service â€” but will they choose to stand with the devil they know or a new and possibly worse evil? Friendships will be ruined, lives will be lost and allegiances will be forever changed. Plus, a backup feature starring Dr. Occult, who receives a shocking visitation on the eve of the war in hell! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Matt Clark & Kevin Nowlan), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by the same art team). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale June 4 â€¢ 1 of 8 â€¢ 40 pg, FC, $3.50 US

Random hook-ups, internal fighting, envyâ€¦whatâ€™s going on with Nightwing, Starfire, Flash, Beast Boy, Raven, Donna and Red Arrow? Can this team get their act together before their mysterious foes reveal themselves? On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

It’s the final battle against the Terror Titans! With the true nature of the Clock King revealed, how can the Teen Titans possibly hope to prevail? And, when all is said and done, who will still be Teen Titans? On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

TEEN TITANS: YEAR ONE #6 Written by Amy Wolfram Art and cover by Karl Kerschl & Serge LaPointe

The origin of the Teen Titans concludes with the return of Antithesis! How will the Titans defeat this monster as it exploits all their weaknesses and fears? On sale June 25 â€¢ 6 of 6 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The penultimate chapter of Ravenâ€™s first miniseries has the gothic Titan battling for her own sanity as the forces of the Medusa Mask are unleashed. How long can Raven keep her darker self in check? On sale June 4 â€¢ 4 of 5 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Vic Stone has sworn that he’ll never let anyone undergo the horrific process that transformed him into Cyborg. Now it appears he’s on a nationwide rampage taking out S.T.A.R. Labs. Are two teams of Titans enough to stop this madness? On sale June 18 â€¢ 2 of 5 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

DC/WILDSTORM: DREAMWAR #3 Written by Keith Giffen Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli & ScottArt by Lee Garbett & Trevor Scott All good things must pass, and our heroes find out theyâ€™re on the same side after all. But tensions remain high as the heavy hitters â€” the JLA, Wildcats, Teen Titans and the Authority â€” still donâ€™t care for each other at all. But theyâ€™re willing to work together if thatâ€™s what it takes to save the world. Because with things like Metropolis and Gotham City suddenly showing up on the east coast of the WildStorm Universeâ€™s United States of America, or Central City and Keystone City in the midwest, massive damage is occurring on an unprecedented scale. Hate each other as they might, theyâ€™re forced to work together for the common good. On sale Juneâ€¢ 11 â€¢ 3 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

TANGENT: SUPERMANâ€™S REIGN #4 Written by Dan Jurgens & Ron Marz Art by Jamal Igle, Robin Riggs and Fernando Pararin Cover by Matt Haley & Tom Simmons The Tangent Earthâ€™s Superman has taken over his world and made it a safer place, unless someone crosses him! The DCUâ€™s Green Lantern and the Flash are in deep trouble, and getting back to their Earth may only make things worse! On sale June 18 â€¢ 4 of 12 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE #3 & 4 Written by Ivory Madison Art by Cliff Richards, Art Thibert and Norm Rapmund Cover by Matthew Clark

Helena Bertinelliâ€™s vigilante attack on the shadowy cabal known as the Hand makes her a marked woman in Italy â€” just as a childhood mentor returns from the dead and inspires her to don the Huntress costume for the first time. And in issue #4, a deadly battle with her familyâ€™s assassin in the middle of Veniceâ€™s Carnival leaves Huntress with no choice but to return to Gotham â€” sparking a fateful first meeting with Bruce Wayne! Issue #3 on sale June 11, issue #4 on sale 25 3 and 4 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Penguinâ€™s tenuous hold over the City quickly slips away as Batman and Gothamâ€™s other protectors close in for the final act of this epic gang war. Will Penguin pay the ultimate price? Or will the Dark Knight show Gothamâ€™s underworld boss a rare moment of grace? No matter the outcome, it all comes to an explosive conclusion here! On sale June 11 â€¢ 9 of 9 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The cosmic event of the summer continues! Who â€” or what â€” has been raiding the timestream and plucking creatures from Rann’s past? Adam Strange, Hawkman, Starfire and company are about to find out as they come face-to-face with a T-Rex! On sale June 4 â€¢ 2 of 8 â€¢ 40 pg, FC, $3.50 US

BATMAN #678 Written by Grant Morrison Art by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea Cover by Alex Ross Variant cover by Daniel Part 3 of â€œBatman R.I.P.â€! Batmanâ€™s mysterious adversary has won. All is lost for the Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne is now deranged and dissociated, wandering homeless in the alleys of Gotham City. Is there a chance that Bruce can rebuild his Batman identity from scratch, or is this truly the end for one of the worldâ€™s finest heroes?

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Alex Ross), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Tony Daniel). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

James Robinson (Starman, The Golden Age) arrives as the new ongoing writer of SUPERMAN as changes abound in the life of the Man of Steel! A frighteningly powerful new presence declares Metropolis his, a monster strikes the harbor of the City of Tomorrow, Green Lantern guest-stars for a unique game of fetch, and the Science Police arrive on the scene. And this is only issue one of the new run! Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Alex Ross), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Renato Guedes). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #2 Written by Bruce Jones Art by Al Barrionuevo & Jimmy Palmiotti Cover by Brian Bolland

Heroes and legends from across time collide! Marooned on an island with warriors from every era in history our heroes find that this strange environment, already crawling with prehistoric creatures, has more deadly secrets to reveal! Also, the arrival of more combatants, including Viking Prince! On sale June 4 â€¢ 2 of 8 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

TOR #2 Written by Joe Kubert Art and cover by Kubert

As Tor continues his journey through the world heâ€™s just discovered, he meets a group of prehistoric men who accept him as one of their own. However, a mistake could prove deadly when the tribe encounters a man-eating sabretooth tiger. On sale June 4 â€¢ 2 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #11 Written by Frank Miller Art and cover by Jim Lee & Scott Williams

Frank Miller and Jim Lee gun the All Star engine into the red! The Dark Knightâ€™s hand exacts a heavy price from the trash of Gotham â€” and now, with the Boy Wonder by his side, fines will be doubled! On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

DETECTIVE COMICS #845 Written by Paul Dini Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs Cover by Nguyen A killer stalks the city, taxing the wits of Batman, the Riddler and every other detective in Gotham. The Dark Knight’s quest to unravel the truth behind the seemingly unrelated murders is complicated by the surprise return of a fan-favorite character. What sinister secret lies at the bottom of the gruesome murders plaguing Gotham City? On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

ROBIN/SPOILER SPECIAL #1 Written by Chuck Dixon Art by Rafael Albuquerque and Victor IbÃ¡Ã±ez Cover by Albuquerque and Cris Peter

From the rooftops in Robin to Gotham Underground, Spoilerâ€™s identity has remained a mystery â€” until now. All is revealed in this special when Robin and Spoiler team up to take down a kidnapping ring, hit up an illegal warehouse party and finish Timâ€™s algebra homework; just another day in the life of a teenaged vigilante super-hero! Plus, even more Robin doesnâ€™t know: Spoilerâ€™s secret identity in another country, in another life – one she can never leave behind. On sale June 4 â€¢ 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US

The events of â€œBatman R.I.P.â€ carve a path of destruction through Timâ€™s life, threatening to rip apart the entire foundation of what made him choose to take on the role of Robin in the first place. Timâ€™s on the run and, with Batmanâ€™s life at stake, he canâ€™t afford to make one misstep. Donâ€™t miss Part 1 of a shocking 2-part story that will irrevocably change Tim Drakeâ€™s present as Robinâ€¦and his hard-won future as Batman. On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN: GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #2 Written by Steve Niles Art and cover by Kelley Jones

The Batman has been ambushed by a gang of thugs who want only one thing: the death of the Dark Knight Detective. But there is more to this nefarious plan than it seems. For at the stroke of midnight, the mysterious monster behind this gang wants to strike fear into the hearts of all the citizens of Gotham City! On sale June 25 â€¢ 2 of 12 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

CATWOMAN #80 Written by Will Pfeifer Art by David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez Cover by Adam Hughes Catwomanâ€™s quest to get back to the top of Gotham Cityâ€™s underworld hits a giant snag! Her rival has brought in some unexpected (and deadly) assistance, and it turns out Batman isnâ€™t too happy to see Selina Kyle back on the streets of Gotham! On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

NIGHTWING #145 Written by Peter J. Tomasi Art by Rags Morales & Michael Baer Cover by Andy Kubert As the stakes get higher, Nightwing finds not only his own life in danger, but quite possibly the future of the entire country. Talia’s grand new plans take shape thanks to the forced assistance of a kidnapped Mother of Champions now under Creighton’s complete control. On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #18 Written by Fabian Nicieza Art and cover by Kevin Maguire

Batgirl tracks Catwoman and the notebook stolen from Commissioner Gordon to a posh nightclub â€” where costumes are optional!

On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

SIMON DARK #9 Written by Steve Niles and Scott Hampton Art and cover by Scott Hampton

The cult steps out of the shadows and is ready to seize control after its rampage through Gotham City! Can Simon and Rachel drive them back?

On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN: DEATH MASK #3 Written by Yoshinori Natsume Art and cover by Natsume

The mystery of the deadly masks is uncovered, as the killer reveals his long-standing deep-rooted connection to the Dark Knight and the time they spent together as students in Japan years ago. On sale June 4 â€¢ 3 of 4 â€¢ 48 pg, B&W, $2.99 US

Superstar artist Gary Frank returns as the new world of Superman for 2008 and beyond begins in Part 1 of â€œBrainiacâ€! Decades ago, Krypton went to war with Brainiac, a cold and callous alien obsessed with the control of knowledge. Superman believes he’s faced Brainiac before, but he’s about to learn the truth behind his close encounters as he heads down the road to his greatest triumph…and greatest tragedy. On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Itâ€™s the final chapter of the epic search for Kryptonite, as the Man of Steel must confront an old and dear friend whoâ€™s harboring the â€œKâ€ and threatening to set off â€œKryptonite dirty bombsâ€ around the world. Can the Dark Knight prevent this before Earth is made uninhabitable for all Kryptonians? On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Supergirl crossed a line no hero should, promising a dying boy she’d cure his cancer. Now she’s prepared to break the universe’s rules of life and death and betray the trust of two heroes in service of her impossible quest. Regardless of the outcome, there will be major consequences for the Teen of Steel!

On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE ALL-NEW ATOM #24 Written by Rick Remender Art by Pat Olliffe & John Stanisci Cover by LadrÃ¶nn

As The Atom fights the reprehensible Worm, past and future become entangled, hurling The Mighty Mite into a dismal universe dominated by the twisted new Chronos. And what is Ryan Choi’s real connection to Ray Palmer? The truth will leave the fate of the world on the shoulders of The Atom! Guest starring Booster Gold! On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #8 Written by Chuck Dixon Art by Julian Lopez & Bit Cover by Doug Braithwaite As the Outsidersâ€™ situation deep in the heart of China worsens, the team must turn to the member they trust least to bail them out: Batgirl. All this, plus REMAC in full-force action and a guest appearance by the former leader of the Outsiders â€” Nightwing! On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

In order to correct the past and save the future, Booster Gold faces a startling reality â€” someone from his past must live and someone must die! Can the greatest hero the world has never known do what must be done to save all of time? On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #14 Written by Mark Waid Art and cover by Scott Kolins Nanda Parbat is under siege, and to keep his mystical realm from being overtaken by insurgents, Deadman must find a champion to protect it! Boston Brand elects Green Arrow! Can two heroes so similar in temperament but so different in ability pool their resources to survive â€” let alone triumph? On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Celebrate the start of TO REIGN IN HELL with this 80-page collection featuring stories from SUPERMAN #71, SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #15, and ACTION COMICS #680! In stores June 4 â€¢ 80 pg, FC, $4.99 US

Green Arrow and Black Canary follow the trail of Connor Hawke’s missing body to the heart of the League of Assassins â€” and face the resurrected Ra’s al Ghul himself! On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

A tidal wave of psychic terror sends Keystoneâ€™s citizenry on a superpowered looting spree at the Flash Museum â€” and The Flash is forced to relive painful memories while defending it! On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

INFINITY INC. #10 Written by Peter Milligan Art and cover by Pete Woods It’s an issue of revelations, as the Bogeyman’s identity is exposed, Mercy proves something to herself and the team, but at a horrible cost, and the man behind the anti-Infinity Inc. movement stands revealed. But is he merely a guy with a bone to pick, or much, much more? The newly-suited Infinity Inc.’s first mission concludes â€” for better or worse! On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

SECRET ORIGIN PART 4! Sinestro has been sent to Earth on a sacred mission, one that this new rookie Hal Jordan is getting in the way with. Plus, one of Hal Jordan’s first enemies is born as a bizarre experiment backfires and another is unknowingly stalked for his connection to the Blackest Night! On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The epic battle against Mongul begins here, as the true origin of the Black Mercy is revealed! The Green Lantern Corps find itself pitted not only against Mongul to save Sodam and Arisia, but an entire planet made of Black Mercys that seem to be under the control of a quite possibly darker and more disturbing force. This creature the Corps will come to fear is known simply as Mother Mercy â€” and it has no plans of showing any now or ever. On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The fan-favorite series returns! New series artist Michael Gaydos (New Avengers, Alias, Nightmare Factory) and cover artist Liam Sharp (COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS) deliver a stunning new look for the continuing adventures of the DCUâ€™s most human hero! Los Angeles is Manhunterâ€™s town â€” so when Kate Spencer learns of the disappearance of hundreds of women along the Mexican border, sheâ€™s on the case both as law-breaking D.A. and costumed vigilante. Meanwhile, Kateâ€™s bloodline tie to the JSA returns to haunt her â€” and it looks like her sidekickâ€™s most notorious supervillain ex-boss is doing the same to him. On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

JSA CLASSIFIED #39 Written by Mike W. Barr Art by Shawn Martinbrough Cover by Doug Mahnke Concluding the 2-part â€œBody and Soulâ€! Wildcatâ€™s fighting abilities have been stolen from him and will be sold on the black market to the highest bidder. In order to get back into the ring, Wildcat will have to rely on a little help from his friends â€” the Justice Society of America! On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ Final Issue

Jonah Hex travels to Mexico just in time for the Dia De Los Muertos celebration, and is hired by a spurned husband seeking revenge on the man who stole his wife’s heart. But Hex will have to tread carefully, or he will face the wrath of…the Matador! On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #22 Written by Dwayne McDuffie Art by Ed Benes An all-out action issue as Red Tornado is given another chance at life! The problem is that the dormant Amazo program within him wants the death of all League members! Plus, Zatanna and Animal Man come to aid Vixen with her power problem. On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #17 Written by Geoff Johns & Alex Ross Art and variant cover by Dale Eaglesham & Prentis Rollins Cover by Alex Ross In Part 2 of â€œGog,â€ the Justice Society of America is split down the middle as their allegiance to the being known as Gog has disrupted the team. Are Gogâ€™s motives on the level, or is it all some insidious plot to destroy mankind? Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Alex Ross), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Eaglesham & Rollins). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #43 Written by Jim Shooter Art and cover by Frances Manapul & John Livesay While Science Police search parties ransack The Legionâ€™s headquarters, two away-teams of Legionnaires fight like cornered wolves against vicious enemies. Meanwhile, Brainiac 5 sells out the Legionâ€™s greatest secret! New villains, stunning action and the LSH is shut down!. Plus, the introduction of Ikilles and Cazhmir! The Ikonns! The Peril Men! And more! On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

At the ends of the universe, Wonder Woman falls victim to the Black Horizon, risking the safety of her soul. To salvage her very existence, she must ally herself with the legendary Beowulf and another fearsome warrior from DC’s past! But that’s only half of Wonder Woman’s troubles, as Tom “Nemesis” Tresser runs afoul of one of Diana’s unexpected houseguests! On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN AND SON TP Written by Grant Morrison Art by Andy Kubert, John Van Fleet and Jesse Delperdang Cover by Kubert and Delperdang A softcover edition of the hardcover collecting BATMAN #655-658 and 663-666, by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert! Batman receives the greatest shock of his life when he discovers that he may have a son. And sparks fly when the new addition is introduced to Robin. Advance-solicited; on sale July 9 â€¢ 200 pg, FC, $14.99 US

BATMAN: FACES TP-new edition Written by Matt Wagner Art and cover by Wagner

Batman must prevent Two-Face from creating an army of deformed, super-powerful slaves in this collection by Matt Wagner (SUPERMAN/BATMAN/WONDER WOMAN: TRINITY)! Advance-solicited; on sale July 16 â€¢ 96 pg, FC, $12.99 US

BATMAN: GOING SANE TP Written by J.M. DeMatteis, Eddie Campell & Daren White Art by Joe Staton, Bart Sears and Steve Mitchell Cover by Staton and Mitchell Discover whether The Joker would become sane if Batman disappeared in this thriller collecting Legends of the Dark Knight #65-68 and #100! After a life-and-death struggle, The Joker seemingly kills Batman. Faced with the loss of his nemesis, the insane Joker can only retreatâ€¦into sanity. Advance-solicited; on sale July 30 â€¢ 160 pg, FC, $14.99 US

COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE TP Written by Adam Beechen Art by Eddy Barrows & Julio Ferreiro and others Cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert Collecting the 8-issue miniseries spinning out of 52, featuring the adventures of Animal Man, Starfire, Adam Strange, the mysterious new character Forerunner and more! Can they prevent San Diego from being wiped out by the enigmatic Healers? Advance-solicited; on sale July 23 â€¢ 192 pg, FC, $17.99 US

GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY: ROAD TO THE ALTAR TP Written by Tony Bedard and J. Torres Art by Nicola Scott, Paulo Siqueira, Tom Derenick and others Cover by Siqueira & Amilton Santos Witness the stories that led up to the landmark wedding of two classic DCU heroes in this collection featuring material from BIRDS OF PREY #109, BLACK CANARY #1-4, and the BLACK CANARY WEDDING PLANNER! Advance-solicited; on sale July 23 â€¢ 144 pg, FC, $19.99 US

Collecting the 4-issue miniseries event! Carefully selected from worlds throughout all 52 universes, three versions of each DC hero will walk into the Arena, and only one will walk away. Advance-solicited; on sale July 30 â€¢ 168 pg, FC, $17.99 US

DEATH OF THE NEW GODS HC Written by Jim Starlin Art and cover by Starlin & Matt Banning

Witness the carnage of the Fourth World in this hardcover volume collecting the shocking 8-issue miniseries by Jim Starlin! Someoneâ€™s killing off the New Gods. Who will be the next victims? Who â€” or what â€” is responsible for so many deaths? How is Darkseid connected to them? And will Superman, Orion and Mr. Miracle be able to uncover Darkseid’s schemes before it’s too late? Advance-solicited; on sale August 27 â€¢ 256 pg, FC, $29.99 US

Relive the legendary 1990s JLA series, written by comics masterminds Grant Morrison (FINAL CRISIS) and Mark Millar (Civil War) with stunning art by Howard Porter and others, in this amazing oversized hardcover collecting JLA #1-9 and SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #1! The action begins as the JLA reunites to stop the Hyperclan, who have come to Earth posing as a new group of super heroes. But as their true nature comes to light, only the Worldâ€™s Greatest Super Heroes can stop them! Standing side by side, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter take on alien posers and come to realize that Earth needs a protectorate made up of only the mightiest icons! Advance-solicited; on sale August 20 â€¢ 7â€ x 10.75â€ 256 pg, FC, $29.99 US

METAL MEN HC Written by Duncan Rouleau Art and cover by Rouleau DCâ€™s metallic heroes return in this hardcover collecting the 8-issue miniseries! Gold, Platina, Mercury, Iron, Lead, Tin and Copper must face off the forces of Chemo, Doctor Yes, BOLTS, The Balloonatic and his Orphan Army, as well as the Robot Renegades in this action-packed volume! Advance-solicited; on sale August 20 â€¢ 200 pg, FC, $24.99 US

SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL. 25 HC Written by Will Eisner Art and cover by Will Eisner

The penultimate volume in The Spirit Archives presents the rarely-seen daily Spirit comic strip in its entirety, which ran from October 13, 1941, through March 11, 1944. Full of adventure, suspense and fun, this volume is a must-have for Spirit fans! Advance-solicited; on sale August 27 â€¢ 216 pg, B&W, $59.99 US

TRIALS OF SHAZAM VOL. 2 TP Written by Judd Winick Art by Howard Porter & Mauro Cascioli Cover by Cascioli Collecting issues #7-12 of the maxiseries featuring Freddy Freemanâ€™s quest to gain the powers of Captain Marvel! Win or lose, Freddy may still need the help of the Justice League of America and Shadowpact to survive the “verdict”! Advance-solicited; on sale July 16 â€¢ 144 pg, FC, $14.99 US

DCâ€™s mightiest teen goes solo in this volume collecting the action-packed 6-issue miniseries! Currently estranged from Wonder Woman, Wonder Girlâ€™s going to need the help of the last man on Earth she ever wanted to see again: Hercules! Advance-solicited; on sale July 9 â€¢ 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US

Over 500 pages of classic Hawkman adventures, from the pages of HAWKMAN #12-27, ATOM & HAWKMAN #39-45, ATOM #31, and THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #70! Advance-solicited; on sale July 16 â€¢ 560 pg, B&W, $16.99 US

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE HOUSE OF SECRETS VOL. 1 TP Written by Mike Friedrich, Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman and others Art by Jerry Grandenetti, Bill Draut, Werner Roth, Dick Giordano and others Cover by Bernie Wrightson More than 500 pages of mystery tales from the pages of THE HOUSE OF SECRETS #81-98 (1969-1972)! Advance-solicited; on sale July 30 â€¢ 544 pg, B&W, $16.99 US

TINY TITANS #5 Written by Baltazar & Franco Art and cover by Baltazar Watch out as the Tiny Titans East invade the playground! See if Robin keeps his new identity as Nightwing! Find out the hilarity that only comes with knock knock jokes! And the penguins are back, as the boys play Batman for a day!! Another all ages all fun adventure filled issue! On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

One villain is bad enough. But the Super Friends are in for a real struggle when they face six villains â€” secretly known as the Jesterâ€™s League of America! Plus, puzzles, fact files and more! On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31st CENTURY #15 Written by Jake Black Art by Robert Atkins & Rick Ketcham Cover by Alexander Serra Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Girl finally get their second date, but the trend of nothing ever going as Chuck plans continues when they get hopelessly lost in virtual realityâ€¦with a fast-talking, impulsive brat named Bart as their guide! Can they put their differences aside to stop a virtual threat that gets very real, threatening the existence of New Metropolis? On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

Killer Crocâ€™s on the rampage, but this time heâ€™s not after money, heâ€™s afterâ€¦true love? Batmanâ€™s going to find out that Crocâ€™s heart is just as tough as his hide! On sale June 11 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

Say goodbye to the League as John Stewart and the Green Lantern Corps. take on a universe-threatening mission. Who is the force behind it all? And who is the traitor within the ranks? On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US â€¢ Final Issue

Stand back â€“ this is one fowl issue! Check out three great stories spotlighting Tweety, Fogohorn Leghorn and Daffy Duck! On sale June 18 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

SCOOBY-DOO #133 Written by Robbie Busch, Jack Briglio and John Rozum Art by Roberto Barrios, Mike DeCarlo and Karen Matchette Cover by Scott Neely The gang uncover a long lost, ancient templeâ€¦but when they meet whatâ€™s haunting it, they may wish it had stayed lost longer! Plus, have the kids of Mystery, Inc. finally met their match in the team from Secrets Unlimited? On sale June 18 32 pg, FC, $2.25 US

MAD #491 Written and illustrated by The Usual Gang of Idiots More Mad! What could be bad? On sale June 4 â€¢ 48 pg, FC/B&W, $4.99 US

MAD CLASSICS #23 Written and illustrated by The Usual Gang of Idiots A jam-packed new issue of MAD CLASSICS, featuring the Best of the Web, MAD Marginals, Readerâ€™s Choice picks and much more! On sale June 11 â€¢ 96 pg, FC/B&W, $4.99 US

CHUCK #1 Written by Peter Johnson & Zev Barow Art by Jeremy Haun & Phil Noto Cover by Phil Noto The hit NBC television series comes to comics as Chuck Bartowski and his friends are about to take the world by stormâ€”literally! From series co-executive producer Peter Johnson (Supernatural: Rising Son) and series writer Zev Borow joined with artists Jeremy Haun (The Leading Man) and Phil Noto (Jonah Hex) comes an adventure too big for television! In this globe-trotting, action-packed adventure, Chuck will see many exotic locales, dodge numerous bullets, and be tortured by the worldâ€™s greatest…tickler? On sale June 11 â€¢ 1 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE LOST BOYS: REIGN OF FROGS #2 Written by Hans Rodionoff Art by Joel Gomez & John Stanisci Cover by Jonathan Wayshack

The Frog Brothers return home to find their family has been shattered by a vampire they thought theyâ€™d killed…and that the head vampire is someone terribly familiar. Donâ€™t miss out on the comic book miniseries that will bridge the gap between their adventures in the original film and what has gone on since; leading up to the feature LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE, available only on DVD in summer 2008. On sale June 11 â€¢ 2 of 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $3.50 US MATURE READERS

The exciting new series continues as Casey Blue finds juggling her old life with her new one can be a difficult experienceâ€¦especially when sheâ€™s being hunted for a murder she canâ€™t remember! And does the mysterious woman whom holds the answers an allyâ€¦or an enemy? On sale June 18 â€¢ 2 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE AUTHORITY: PRIME TP Written by Christos Gage Art and cover by Darick Robertson Collecting the red-hot 6-issue miniseries! The Authority and StormWatch Prime were once teammates and the closest of comradesâ€¦but a custody battle over Henry Bendix’s secret bunker causes long-held grudges to boil over! It’s mayhem as two of the strongest teams in the WildStorm Universe collide in a battle for the ages! Advance-solicited; on sale July 23 â€¢ 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US

Y: THE LAST MAN may be over, but Brian K. Vaughan’s other hit ongoing series continues, as he and superstar artist Tony Harris introduce a brand-new masked adventurer named Trouble to this fast-paced political thriller! On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

NUMBER OF THE BEAST #5-6 Written by Scott Beatty Art and covers by Chris Sprouse & Karl Story

The end of the world has come for the Paladins, and itâ€™s an apocalypse at the hands of the newly returned High! But is this tragic hero â€” believed to have perished in a violent collision with SkyWatch years ago â€” the Anti-Christ to a world in the grip of its own private Armageddon, or is he its sole surviving savior? And what secret does death hold for the Paladins, heroes considered a â€œlost generationâ€ by everyone but them? The answers edge the WildStorm Universe ever closer to oblivion! Issue #5 on sale June 11; issue #6 on sale June 25 5 & 6 of 8 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Assassin8 has managed to take out almost all of the Authority. The only thing standing between him and complete victory is the Midnighter â€” and Midnighter wants serious revenge! On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ Final Issue

THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY: JACK HAWKSMOOR #4 Written by Michael Costa Art by Fiona Staples Cover by Cully Hamner There’s a maniac from the 70th century piloting a giant robot from another universe, and Jack has been cut off from his powers. This is gonna be ugly. Plus, a dark secret finally answers the question: Whatever happened to Jack’s family? On sale June 25 â€¢ 4 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE PROGRAMME #12 Written by Peter Milligan Art and cover by C.P. Smith

The earth-shaking conclusion to the acclaimed miniseries! Can Max unite America and overcome the Russian Dolls once and for all? Is the United State ready for a â€œnew world orderâ€ where super-powers reign supreme over conventional weapons? On sale June 23 â€¢ 12 of 12 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

SUPERNATURAL: RISING SON #3 Written by Peter Johnston & Rebecca Dessertine Art by Diego Olmos Cover by Dustin Nguyen The sacrifices John Winchester has made for the â€œgreater goodâ€ of hunting are tremendous, but he finally takes the biggest step of all: arranging a first â€œhuntâ€ for his older son Dean. Is the young man ready for the horrors his father has hunted for years? Will he finally â€œconnectâ€ with an emotionally distant father in the only way possible? On sale June 25 â€¢ 3 of 6 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: RAISING CAIN #2 Written by Bruce Jones Art by Chris Gugliotti Cover by Dave Taylor The Hewitt twins, separated birth, find themselves inexorably drawn to each other as they grow up, connected by a hideous bond soaked in blood, a bond time and distance cannot begin to sever. And when the long-missing twin goes into law enforcement, more blood is sure to follow. On sale June 4 â€¢ 2 of 3 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $3.50 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

WILDSTORM: REVELATIONS TP Written by Scott Beatty & Christos Gage Art by Wes Craig Cover by Ivan Reis & Richard Friend Collecting the universe-shaking 6-issue miniseries! Rogue Coda warrior Nemesis, following her harrowing post-apocalyptic vision, must find Backlash and Savant to help her unlock the secrets of the coming destruction. But can anything stem the tide of darkness about to sweep the entire WildStorm Universe? Advance-solicited; on sale July 2 â€¢ 144 pg, FC, $17.99 US

WORLD OF WARCRAFT #8 Written by Walter Simonson Art by Jon Landry & Jerome K. Moore Covers by Samwise Didier and Ludo Lullabi

â€œThe Returnâ€ begins a new story arc set in the WORLD OF WARCRAFT. Upon learning he is in fact the missing king of Stormwind, Loâ€™Gosh returns to reclaim his throne with his comrades-in-arms Valeera, and Broll. But all is not as it seems in the eastern kingdom, especially if one informed dwarf has anything to say about it. Enter Thargas Anvilmar! Retailers please note: This issue will feature two covers that will ship in approximately 50/50 ratio. Cover A is by Blizzard Art Director Samwise Didier, and Cover B is by Ludo Lullabi. Please see the Previews Order Form for more details. On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE NEW YORK FOUR Written by Brian Wood Art and cover by Ryan Kelly

A new Minx graphic novel from acclaimed writer Brian Wood (DEMO, DMZ)! Just starting her freshman year at NYU, Riley is about to find out what an adventure â€” and a mystery â€” living in New York City can be. The ultimate insiderâ€™s guide to NYC is seen through the eyes of Brooklyn-born Riley. Raised by stuffy, literati parents, Rileyâ€™s a shy, straight-A student who convinces three other NYU brainiacs to join a research group for fast cash. What Riley doesnâ€™t bank on is accidentally falling in love with arty older sisterâ€™s boyfriend. Advance-solicited; on sale July 23 â€¢ 176 pg, B&W, $9.99 US

MADAME XANADU #1 Written by Matt Wagner Art and cover by Amy Reeder Hadley Variant cover by Wagner Legendary creator Matt Wagner (MAGE, GRENDEL, SUPERMAN/BATMAN/WONDER WOMAN: TRINITY) and rising star artist Amy Reeder Hadley present Vertigoâ€™s newest ongoing fantasy epic. Centuries long and around the globe her tale winds before the ageless fortuneteller arrives in modern era New York. Her powers of sight can change the course of human events, but how does the seer see herself? Wagner and Hadley answer with painstakingly elegant story and breathtakingly innovative art that is sure to make Madame Xanadu a classic! Issue #1 opens into a medieval kingdom beset by intrigue and foul sorcery. A fair sylph with magic of her own is thrown into the world of war and men â€” where she encounters a dark stranger who knows not only her past, but her most intimate future as well. Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Hadley), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Wagner). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information. FC / 32 pgs / Monthly / $2.99 US / On sale June 25 / MATURE READERS

100 BULLETS #92 Written by Brian Azzarello Art by Eduardo Risso Cover by Dave Johnson The countdown to the series finale continues. As the heat rises on the cold streets of Chicago, we check back in with the remaining Minutemen who have plans of their own. Is this all a part of Gravesâ€™ plan â€“ or has the old man finally lost control? On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

AMERICAN SPLENDOR SEASON TWO #3 Written by Harvey Pekar Art by Darwyn Cooke, Warren Pleece, Rick Geary, Dean Haspiel and others Cover by Darwyn Cooke How much pain is too much? For Harvey Pekar, the answer may be somewhat different than youâ€™d think. And thatâ€™s just one of the conundrums pondered by Pekar in this issue. On sale June 4 â€¢ 3 of 4 â€¢ 32 pg, B&W, $2.99 US â€¢ No ads â€¢ MATURE READERS

ARMY@LOVE VOL. 2: GENERATION PWNED TP Written by Rick Veitch Art by Veitch & Gary Erskine Cover by Veitch Collecting issues #6-12 of the incisive ARMY@LOVE, a series writer Rick Veitch describes as Desperate Housewives meets the war. This volume, leading into the upcoming ARMY@LOVE SEASON 2, follows the exploits of rivals Loman and Flabbergast, as well as Switzer, the woman they both love. Advance-solicited; on sale July 2 â€¢ 168 pg, FC, $12.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

AMERICAN VIRGIN VOL. 4: AROUND THE WORLD TP Written by Steven T. Seagle Art by Becky Cloonan & Jim Rugg Cover by Celia Calle Collecting issues #15-23 of the GLAAD Award nominated series! In this final volume, Adam Chamberlain comes full circle. Heâ€™s been waiting his whole life to experience reunion, revenge and consummation. Under the all-seeing eye of his Higher Power, Adam is offered these desires, but each comes with a price: betrayal, arrest and damnation. Advance-solicited; on sale July 2 â€¢ 224 pg, FC, $17.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

DMZ #32 Written by Brian Wood Art by Riccardo Burchielli Cover by Wood â€œBlood in the Gameâ€ Part 4. All hell breaks loose in the DMZ as an assassination attempt is made on Delgado during an impassioned speech. Before the dust even settles, officials from all sides try and spin the shooting in their favor â€” with even Matty Roth taking advantage of the situation. On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

DMZ VOL. 5: THE HIDDEN WAR TP Written by Brian Wood Cover by Wood Art by Riccardo Burchielli and Danijel Zezelj Collecting issues #23-28 of the acclaimed series from writer Brian Wood (DEMO). The world and characters of the DMZ are expanded and enriched in this volume as Matty Roth turns his attention to several locals â€” a guerilla artist, a former ally whoâ€™s now worse off than a homeless person, the powerful head of an organization within the DMZ and more Advance-solicited; on sale July 2 â€¢ 144 pg, FC, $12.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

HOUSE OF MYSTERY #2 Written by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham Art by Luca Rossi and Jill Thompson Cover by Sam Weber

The new monthly series that takes THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY into the twenty-first century continues. Meet feisty, young, almost-architect Fig Keele, who just happens to be running for her life. Unfortunately for Fig, sheâ€™s ended up in the House of Mystery, a strange place like something out of her nightmares, where the bizarre inhabitants tending bar demand stories from visiting patrons to cover their tabs. And one of the customers tells such a tale â€” detailing the life of a supernatural process server who discovers an undersea kingdom â€” illustrated by multiple Eisner Award-winner Jill Thompson (THE SANDMAN)! On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

The all-out war between Fabletown and the Empire continues â€” and everything is going Fabletown’s way. But as everyone knows, just when things are going well, the hammer falls. Bigby and his team fight for their lives on the ground while the Skyship’s crew, commanded by Prince Charming and Sinbad, hit the decks. This is the issue that, for obvious legal reasons, we couldn’t call “The Empire Strikes Back.” On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

The tumultuous year 1883 comes to a close with the final showdown between Smiling Jack Candle and the Sheriff without a Gun. Get the women and children off the streets and board up your doors and windows â€” there’s gonna be a killin’! On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

THE EXTERMINATORS #30 Written by Simon Oliver Art by Tony Moore & John Lucas Cover by Philip Bond Vertigoâ€™s most skin-crawling series crashes to an apocalyptic conclusion as the boys (and girls) of Bug Bee Gone fight the battle they always knew was coming: humanityâ€™s last stand against the chaos of nature. Thereâ€™s no guarantee that anyone will survive, but if Henry, Stretch, Nils and the rest canâ€™t make a last stand against the killer cockroaches, no one else will. Donâ€™t miss the ending of this cult-classic comic never to be duplicated. On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS â€¢ Final issue

HELLBLAZER #245 Written by Jason Aaron Art by Sean Murphy Cover by Lee Bermejo â€œNewcastle Callingâ€ Part 1 of 2, written by Jason Aaron (SCALPED, Ghost Rider) with art by Sean Murphy (Batman/Scarecrow: Year One). A group of naÃ¯ve documentary filmmakers try to find out what happened to Mucous Membrane â€” an up-and-coming punk outfit (led by John Constantine) that met a mysterious end. On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

SCALPED #18 Written by Jason Aaron Art by Davide Furno Cover by Tim Bradstreet A stand-alone issue focusing on tribal policeman Franklin Falls Down. After years spent being the one good cop on a dirty rez, Falls Down is considering retirement. But for a man who knows everything there is to know about policing in Indian Country, there’s one thing he’s never learned how to do, and that’s “let go.” On sale June 18 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

THE UN-MEN #11 Written by John Whalen Art by Mike Hawthorne Cover by Tomer Hanuka Since his arrival in Aberrance, Kilcrop has been dogged by dark hints of a secret past â€” a past he shares with none other than Cranius himself. Now, in this special stand-alone issue, the hidden history of the albino agent and the Living Brain is revealed. And like all things in Aberrance, itâ€™s not pretty. On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

With the assistance of a small army, the battle for Svenâ€™s birthright begins. Vastly outnumbered by Gormâ€™s forces, things begin to look bleak until some unforeseen allies help Svenâ€™s cause. But will it be enough in the end? On sale June 25 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

THE VINYL UNDERgROUND #9 Written by Si Spencer Art by Simon Gane & Ryan Kelly Cover by Sean Phillips As the final clues to the ritual killings fall into place, Morrison and the Vinyl Underground are in a race against time. And just as the killers begin to dispose of the evidence and, worse, their remaining victims, Morrison learns the truth about a family member that could destroy him once and for all. On sale June 4 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

YOUNG LIARS #4 Written, art and cover by David Lapham The Young Liars take to the high seas for a scrap booking adventure! In this latest tale of things not working out as planned, Danny gets his heartâ€™s desire again and again and again and again, Annie screams, Big C drinks, Donnie pastes, Truman hits (but not like a girl), and Sadie sings, skis and hijacks. But thereâ€™s only one thing that keeps her from being the worst thing of all: B-O-R-E-D. Find out what it is in â€œBedsheets & Bloodstainsâ€! On sale June 11 â€¢ 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

SHIRLEY VOL. 1 Written and illustrated by Kaoru Mori CMX. Further exploring the world of maids in English society which she portrayed in EMMA, Kaoru Mori moves slightly forward in timeâ€”from Victorian to Edwardian England. When Miss Bennett gets too busy running the pub she inherited, she decides that she needs some help at home. She posts a notice for a maid and young Shirley Madison replies. Shirley can clean and cook as well as anyone â€“ even if sheâ€™s only 13 years old! As readers have come to expect from creator Kaoru Mori, this one volume collection of short stories is filled with rich period detail, sympathetic characters, and moving stories. Advance-solicited; on sale July 2 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 200 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ TEEN

TEARS OF A LAMB VOL. 3 Written and illustrated by Banri Hidaka CMX. Kanzaki sees a picture of Suwa in old yearbook. Itâ€™s the first time heâ€™s seen what the owner of the ring Keiâ€™s been searching for looks like. With Kanzakiâ€™s feelings for Kei possibly getting more serious, he wants to find out everything he can about this mystery guyâ€™s connection to her. But Kanzaki also learns some big news about Kei that heâ€™s just going to have to keep quiet about for now. Advance-solicited; on sale July 2 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 192 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ TEEN

VARIANTE VOL. 4 Written and illustrated by Iqura Sugimoto CMX. FINAL VOLUME! Agent Sudo breaks into the headquarters of Atheos, intent on exposing the true purpose of this secret organization and rescuing Aiko, their reluctant pawn. The final battle over her fate is about to beginâ€¦and Aiko is finished being anyoneâ€™s weapon but her own. The real story behind the slaughter of Aikoâ€™s family is revealed. Will she ever be able to find a place in the world again? Advance-solicited; on sale July 9 â€¢ 5.5″ x 8″ â€¢ 194 pg, B&W, $12.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS KIKAIDER CODE 02 VOL. 7 Written by Ishimori Shotaro, Illustrated by MEIMU CMX. Kikaider is back! In a bleak, future world, a young man named Jiro is really the robot called Kikaider. Created by a scientist who built robots for an evil organization, Jiro was given a special, humanizing chip to keep him from being used for destructive purposes. This sequel picks up on the fast-paced robot action of the cult CMX series and addresses some unanswered questions. Advance-solicited; on sale July 9 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 178 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

DOROTHEA VOL. 2 Written and Illustrated by Cuvie CMX. When she finally gets her first taste of war, Dorothea is forced to kill for the first time. Sheâ€™s not able to shake off the experience, despite attempts to rationalize her actions as necessary. Later, she confronts a band of soldiers trying to loot a home and attack the widow who lives there. But her savior role is short-lived when she is forced to face the consequences of her earlier actions. Advance-solicited; on sale July 16 â€¢ 5.5″ x 8″ â€¢ 164 pg, B&W, $12.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

I HATE YOU MORE THAN ANYONE VOL. 5 Written and illustrated by Banri Hidaka CMX. Are Kazuha and her friend Senko rivals for Sugimotoâ€™s heart? Kazuha has no idea, of course, because Senko does such a good job of keeping her true feelings a secret. Senkoâ€™s confessed to Sugimoto that she once had it bad for him. But is it really in the past tense? Things get really complicated when they both accompany Sugimoto to the wedding of Mizushima, Kazuhaâ€™s first, big crush. Advance-solicited; on sale July 16 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 192 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ TEEN+

GON VOL. 5 Written and illustrated by Masashi Tanaka CMX. Gon goes underground in this book length adventure. Things start out small, as Gon fixates on an anthill. From there, he defends a colony of prairie dogs from a mother coyote and her cub. Enemies become allies when an earthquake opens up a huge fissure, sending Gon and his companions into a mysterious, underground world filled with strange creatures. Will a giant spider prove to be Gonâ€™s match? Advance-solicited; on sale July 23 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 164 pg, B&W, $5.99 US â€¢ TEEN

KIICHI AND THE MAGIC BOOKS VOL. 2 Written and illustrated by Taka Amano CMX. Kiichi and Mototaro encounter a woman whose son has died. She wants to recreate him in then draw him out of a magic book. But complications set in when this copy of her son has more of a bond with the mother he left behind in the book. Later, Mototaro encounters a researcher at one of the 12 Libraries whoâ€™s convinced that Kiichiâ€™s very existence might be connected to some great cosmic plan. Advance-solicited; on sale July 23 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 160 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ TEEN

TENJHO TENGE VOL. 17 Written and illustrated by Oh! great CMX. Itâ€™s all-out action for the Juken Club as the Tournament finally gets underway. But Masataka may miss out on the competition â€“ a surprise viewing of a private moment between Aya and Madoka keeps him up past his bedtime and he oversleeps the next morning! Without him, the team finds itself trapped by a deadly bowman who attempts to make them miss the opening of the tournament and face disqualification. Advance-solicited; on sale July 30 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 200 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ MATURE READERS

PENGUIN REVOLUTION VOL. 6 Written and illustrated by Sakura Tsukuba CMX. â€œDream Stairs,â€â€“â€“the movie based on the relationship between the President of the Peacock agency and movie star Yoko Okaâ€“â€“is a big hit! Yukari heads off to Monaco for a screening at a film festival, accompanied by the movieâ€™s stars (and her personal friends), Aya and Ryo. Things have never looked better for her career as a talent agent. But what does Yoko have in mind that has Yukari concerned? Advance-solicited; on sale July 30 â€¢ 5″ x 7.375″ â€¢ 192 pg, B&W, $9.99 US â€¢ TEEN

JLA TROPHY ROOM: BAT-SIGNAL PROP REPLICA

The JLA Trophy Room prop replica program continues for 2008 with the Bat-Signal! A must-have on any wall or ceiling for the ultimate Batman fan!

With the flick of a switch, this metal-encased device projects a light-up Bat-Signal an impressive 16 feet! Powered by a plug-in, UL adapter and two ultra-bright bulbs, the piece also includes a fan to keep it cool. With a swivel feature enabling the Bat-Signal to pan across the room, Batman is sure to come to the rescue no matter where he is when heâ€™s beckoned.

This prop replica measures approximately 12â€ tall x 2.25â€ wide x 9â€ deep and is packaged in a 4/C box. Also included are a 4/C Certificate of Authenticity, a â€œGuide to the Trophy Roomâ€ brochure written by best-selling author Brad Meltzer, and one replacement bulb.

THE DARK KNIGHT THE JOKER 1:6 SCALE Deluxe Collector Figure

Gotham Cityâ€™s wickedest villain becomes a 1:6 scale figure! Dressed in an intricate fabric costume consisting of a shirt, tie, vest, blazer, pants, overcoat, and loafers, and including movie-specific accessories of three knives, a handgun with removable clip, a bank robbery mask, and three sets of hands, the figure also comes with a display stand.

“The Dark Knight” joins DC Directâ€™s line of realistically proportioned, super-heroic 1:6 scale figures! Appearing in his “The Dark Knight” costume consisting of detailed armor, a poseable fabric cape and a utility belt, the figure also comes with movie-specific accessories, including one large and three small Batarangs, a grappling launcher, a â€œpneumatic mangler,â€ and two sets of hands. A display stand is also included.

Standing on a pile of oversized playing cards, this statue features The Joker sporting his trademark grin!

This limited edition, hand-painted cold-cast porcelain statue measures approximately 10â€ high x 10â€ wide x 6â€ deep, includes a 4-color certificate of authenticity and is packaged in a 4-color box.

Limited edition of only 6,000 pieces! Advance-solicited; in stores July 2, 2008 Statue * $150.00 US

THE DARK KNIGHT BATMAN BUST Sculpted by Kolby Jukes

Dressed in the new Dark Knight costume and ready to fight any foes in his way, this Batman bust is hand-painted and cold-cast in porcelain.

“The Dark Knight” is in mid-flight in this dramatic action pose! This uniquely crafted piece features Batmanâ€™s sweeping cape as the statueâ€™s base.

This limited edition, hand-painted cold-cast porcelain statue measures approximately 10â€ high x 8â€ wide x 8â€ deep, includes a 4-color certificate of authenticity and is packaged in a 4-color box.

Limited editionof only 6,000 pieces!

Advance-solicited; in stores July 2, 2008 Statue * $150.00 US

THE DARK KNIGHT THE JOKER BUST Sculpted by Kolby Jukes

The Joker displays a handful of his signature playing cards in this hand-painted cold-cast porcelain bust. Packaged in a 4-color box, The Joker bust measures approximately 4.75â€ tall x 3â€ wide x 2.5â€ deep.

Limited edition of 6,000 pieces!

Advance solicited; on sale June 25, 2008 * Bust * $59.99 US

THE DARK KNIGHT GRAPPLING LAUNCHER PROP REPLICA

This life-sized, high-quality resin prop replica was cast from the actual prop used in “The Dark Knight” movie! Mounted on a display base, the piece is hand-painted and cold-cast in porcelain. Packaged in a 4-color box, the prop measures approximately 6â€ high x 7â€deep x 12â€ wideâ€ and includes a certificate of authenticity.

Limited edition of 1,500 pieces!

Advance-solicited; on sale July 16, 2008 Prop Replica * $195 US

THE DARK KNIGHT BATARANGS PROP REPLICA

These actual-sized, high-quality Batarang replicas were cast from the actual props used in “The Dark Knight” movie! Mounted on a display base, the piece is hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain. Packaged in an upscale box, the prop measures approximately 5â€ high x 5â€ deep x 7.5â€ wide and includes a certificate of authenticity.

Using the popular artist-inspired format of Batman Black & White, this special edition statue is based on Segment 6, titled â€œDeadshot,â€ in the upcoming direct-to-DVD animated feature, BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT.

The DVD features six standalone chapters starring Batman, each with stylish art from some of Japanâ€™s greatest anime visionaries, weaving into a larger story that follows Batman through his transition from beginner to THE DARK KNIGHT.

(A sneak peek of BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT appears on the JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER DVD from Warner Home Video!)

Painted in monochromatic tones, this statue is certain to be a favorite addition to DC Directâ€™s line of BATMAN BLACK & WHITE statues.

The popular BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE line of artist-inspired statues continues! This rendering of the Caped Crusader is based on the cover image from DETECTIVE COMICS #443, drawn by longtime Batman artist Jim Aparo. Painted in monochromatic tones, this statue is certain to be another sought-after addition to DC Directâ€™s line of BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE statues.

The statue measures approximately 6.5â€ tall x 8â€ wide x 5â€ deep. It features a logo-shaped base, and is packaged in a black-and-white box.

Advance-solicited; on sale November 19, 2008 * Statue * $75 US

VERTIGO TAROT DECK SET 20th Anniversary Edition

Art: Dave McKean Text: Rachel Pollack Introduction: Neil Gaiman

What does YOUR future hold? Find out with the re-release of one of the most-requested and sought-after VERTIGO products of all time: The VERTIGO TAROT DECK SET, in a special gold foil-stamped Sandman 20th Anniversary Edition!

With evocative card images and illustrations by award-winning artist Dave McKean, the 78 tarot cards in the set are designed to be utilized by any practitioner of tarot. The Major Arcana of the set features an array of Vertigo characters, including:

The Fool â€¢ John Constantine The Magician â€¢ Tim Hunter The High Priestess â€¢ Titania, Queen of Faerie The Hierophan â€¢ Morpheus The Wheel of Fortune â€¢Destiny of the Endless Death â€¢ Death of the Endless The Devil â€¢ Lucifer The World â€¢ Swamp Thing

This new anniversary edition features:

Seventy-eight cards with art by Dave McKean, a softcover 128-page book (with a four-color cover by McKean, black and white interior text by tarot expert Rachel Pollack, and an introduction by New York Times best-selling SANDMAN author Neil Gaiman), plus a black velvet-like drawstring bag to hold the tarot cards. The book cover, box front, spines and velvet-quality bag are gold foil-stamped with a special Sandman 20th Anniversary logo.

The set is manufactured to order. Advance-solicited; on sale November 5, 2008 * Tarot Deck Set * $39.99

Standing atop battle-damaged Grecian ruins, this stunning 18â€ Wonder Woman mixed-media statue shows the Amazon Princess in all her fury. This 1:4 scale museum quality figure is composed of resin, metal, and an expertly crafted fabric outfit, including briefs with a star pattern, a faux-leather bodice, and a flowing cape. She is armed for battle with a shield, sword, eagle-shaped axe, and a lasso. The full piece measures approximately 16.5â€ high x 11â€ wide x 14â€ deep.

This exclusive, limited edition statue includes a 4/color Certificate of Authenticity and is packaged in a 4/color box.

Advance-solicited; in stores November 5, 2008 * Statue * $295.00 US

BATMAN: GOTHAM UNDERGROUND Poster

Art by J. Calafiore From the covers of the entire GOTHAM UNDERGROUND miniseries

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THE THIRD WAVE BEGINS!!

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The Author

Stephen Schleicher

Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment.

You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

Let me see if I’ve read the solicitations correctly: The Batman R.I.P. story isn’t going to be about the actual death of Batman (which is good because, frankly, if it were I’d drop DC Comics altogether), it’s going to be about the ‘death’ of Batman when some villain manages to break his psyche and make him go nuts* … ?

So, in other words, DC planned to kill Batman as part of the Crisis story, but decided against it because Warner Bros. said “Uh, excuse us, but we actually own that character and we’ve got a pretty big franchise built on it, including a movie coming out this year, and we’d really prefer that you not kill our cash cow.” ( If that’s the case, it really brings into question just how far we can trust DC’s editorial staff, and how ‘forward thinking’ they really are. )

In response and after revision, DC is ‘killing’ Batman but leaving Bruce Wayne alive if not mentally ‘well’ (like that’s ever been an issue for him in the past), allowing for Batman to make a comeback as soon as Bruce gets his head right.

Now, I’m not saying that you can’t make a good story out of this (though, without someone of Brubaker’s calibre writing it, I have my doubts). However, with all of the recent decisions made about Batman and the mythos surrounding him — Catwoman hooking up with and subsequently getting pregnant with someone else’s baby, Cassie Cain going stark-raving loony for no reason whatsoever and then suddenly being ‘alright’ (also with no explanation), etc. — I have my doubts as to whether or not this will be handled well.